Lance Leipold on Nebraska rumors, Houston up next, run defense

Lance Leipold’s name has been mentioned on several lists linking him a possible candidate to the Nebraska job.

Scott Frost was fired as the head coach on Sunday morning. Leipold was asked about those early reports.

“I'm focused on this football team and getting ready for Houston, but appreciate you asking,” Leipold said.

The Jayhawks are getting to head on the road for their second straight game and then will return home for three consecutive games.

They will face Houston on Saturday who will be in the Big 12 conference next year. They get a taste of the new conference opponent a year early. Leipold expects it to be a challenge based off what he has seen from the Cougars on film.

“You know you're going to be in a four quarter, could be a four quarter plus obviously game with them,” he said. “They're highly dynamic. You could see heading into the season, they're a team people talked about as this year's version of Cincinnati, of being a team in the college football playoff.”

This is a non-conference game but Houston will present good athletes who are in line with Big 12 teams.

“You can see that highly dynamic speed in all positions of importance, size, offensive line, of an experienced quarterback who can keep plays alive, create plays with his feet, is a heck of a play to end or score the overtime against Texas-San Antonio.” Leipold said. “A lot of things there present a huge challenge for us, and we'll have to be ready to take another step.”

Houston has gone to overtime in their first two games against UTSA and Texas Tech. Leipold sees the same type of skill on the defensive side of the ball.

“They have ends that are going to get up the field on you,” he said. “Their linebackers are very active sideline to sideline, secondary plays with physicality and speed. It's a good mixture to have. Like I said, they've been tested both directions, I guess, in that in two games here to start. They both were on the road, so you got to give them that as well. You got to be ready. I'm sure they'll be excited to have their home opener.”

Last week West Virginia’s running backs were a concern after a solid performance against Pittsburgh. The Kansas defense stepped up especially in the second and limited the Mountaineers ground to under four yards a carry.

Leipold believes there is still room for improvement but liked some of the things he saw against an experienced offensive line and quality running backs.

“It's been decent,” he said. “There were some things that we look back at film and we reverted some old habits in some areas that we could have played a little better when we were against pretty big physical back last week, but we're making strides. I mean, you see it all across college football though, that the stat lines and the points scores, you can't get hung up on some of the stats you used to evaluate yourself defensively, and we've got to find a way to continue to take another step.”